Louise Yaxley

Louise Yaxley is the political correspondent for ABC News Digital. She has spent more than 20 years reporting on federal politics for the ABC, including for radio news and current affairs programs AM, PM and The World Today. Follow Louise on Twitter: @louiseyaxley

Malcolm Turnbull urges his former colleagues to refer Peter Dutton to the High Court, prompting an accusation from Barnaby Joyce that the ex-prime minister seems to have "an active campaign" to remove the Coalition from Government.

The Home Affairs Minister uses parliamentary privilege to lash out at Roman Quaedvlieg over "fictitious" and "salacious" information regarding the au pairs saga, accusing him of being a "discredited and disgraced" person who "groomed a girl 30 years younger than himself".

Outgoing Foreign Minister Julie Bishop describes the impact of the shooting down of MH17 on the past four years of her personal and ministerial life, amid speculation she could be Australia's next governor-general.

Australia's 30th Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his deputy Josh Frydenberg are officially sworn in, pitching themselves as the new generation of Liberal leadership while outlining their priorities for the country.

Malcolm Turnbull loses the leadership of the Liberal party after a motion to spill the leadership is carried by 45 votes to 40, and his deputy Julie Bishop is eliminated in the race to replace him as leader. It is now a contest between Peter Dutton and Scott Morrison.

Malcolm Turnbull is refusing to resign, saying a form of madness has overcome those in the Liberal Party who want to change leaders. He also says it's vital to get the Solicitor-General's advice on whether Peter Dutton is in breach of the constitution and eligible to serve.

Key powerbroker Mathias Cormann switches sides in the Liberal leadership war, calling on Malcolm Turnbull to go and saying he believes Peter Dutton is the best person to lead the country to the next election.

Peter Dutton's supporters remain confident they can replace the PM as early as this week but Turnbull loyalists believe their man has the upper hand after frontbenchers who voted against him pledge their loyalty.

The Prime Minister's political crisis worsens with a total of nine frontbenchers, including some ministers, offering their resignations — led by former home affairs minister Peter Dutton who lost a leadership spill yesterday morning.

The Government is signalling it is prepared to take tough action to force power prices down as it tries to head off an internal rebellion against the NEG. But one MP says it's a sign Malcolm Turnbull is "pressing the panic button so hard it is like he is playing Space Invaders".

Bob Katter takes advantage of a divisive and widely condemned speech by his party's senator Fraser Anning to extend his political battle against Pauline Hanson's One Nation, but other parties unite in their condemnation of the "racist" speech.

Katter's Australian Party senator Fraser Anning remains unapologetic for a speech widely condemned by both sides of the political divide and which Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull described as "helping the terrorists".

Tony Abbott, George Christensen, Eric Abetz and several other Government MPs indicate they may cross the floor to vote against the National Energy Guarantee despite the majority of the Coalition party room endorsing it.

An investigation into Labor backbencher Emma Husar finds she subjected staff to unreasonable management including disciplinary methods, but that the leaking of complaints against her was reprehensible.